RECENT WORK
The Safety and Fairness for Everyone (SAFE) Network
I produced and directed this video introducing the Safety and Fairness for Everyone (SAFE) Network, a national initiative led by the Vera Institute of Justice. The SAFE Network brings together cities, counties, and states committed to upholding due process and protecting the rights of immigrants facing detention and deportation. Through partnerships with local governments, legal service providers, and advocates, the initiative works to ensure that no one is forced to navigate the immigration system alone. As anti-immigrant policies continue to escalate, the video underscores the urgent need for communities to stand together in defense of fairness, safety, and the universal right to representation.
I directed and edited this video for a Juneteenth event at the Vera Institute of Justice, marking the federal holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. While celebrating freedom, the piece also calls for reflection on the ongoing work needed to build a nation grounded in justice and dignity for all. It connects the legacy of slavery to the present-day U.S. criminal legal system—rooted in white supremacy from the era of chattel slavery through the War on Drugs and modern sentencing practices—highlighting how mass incarceration continues to disproportionately harm Black and brown communities.
Cinematography: Arthur Woo
Juneteenth’s Legacy
Ashia shares how she rebuilt her life after returning from jail, overcoming probation, housing discrimination, unemployment, and the loss of her mother. From sleeping on couches and staying in shelters, she eventually found a landlord willing to give her a chance, and created a safe, welcoming home for herself and her son in Lansing, Michigan. Now, as manager of authentic engagement at the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness, Ashia works to elevate the voices of people with lived experience and ensure they have a role in shaping housing policy. “We don’t want any handouts,” she says. “We need a place to live and raise our kids.”
Cinematography: Jan Reichle